Roasted Tomato and Sweet Pepper Pasta Sauce

Posted: June 25, 2013 | Author: Rachel Randolph | Filed under: Gluten Free, Italian, Main Dishes, Pasta, Toddler-Approved, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: Garden Tomato Recipes, Roasted Pepper Tomato Pasta Sauce, Roasted Tomato Sauce |2 Comments

There comes a time in every gardener’s life when they ask themselves, “What am I going to do with all these tomatoes?” And until that day comes for me, I will pull up my dead plants with my black thumbs, quietly curse those gardeners under my breath, and smile graciously when they offer up some of their overwhelming bounty to me.

I’ll display them on the counter for a day or so until I can’t take their mockery anymore.

And then I will cook my way out of despair.

And remember the gifts I can offer my family, even if a plentiful vegetable garden is not one of them.

Instead, I will slow roast my way into their hearts with sweet peppers, carrots, onions, and garlic (store bought, but flavorful nonetheless), garden tomatoes (generously given to this less fortunate gardener), and a few sad looking twigs of rosemary and oregano (just barely surviving in my garden of doom).

And I’ll bring those flavors together in one delightful pureed sauce. My husband will declare that he may never eat jarred sauce again. My toddler will slurp his pasta up with messy reckless abandon. And I will stand over the pot eating the sweet rich roasted sauce by the spoonful, my self esteem having made a complete (near manic) turn for the better.

For those of you who feel the need to do something good and right by your family, I give you this recipe. It will restore their faith in you, and your faith in yourself.

Roasted Tomato and Sweet Pepper Pasta Sauce

Serves 6

Ingredients

• ~ 3 pounds of tomatoes (I don’t have a scale, but I used about 12-15 smallish tomatoes), cut in half
• ~15 mini sweet peppers (or 3 red, yellow, or orange bell peppers), cut in half and seeded
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced thin
• 1 red onion, quartered
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 twigs fresh rosemary, removed from stem (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregeno, removed from stem (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Generous sprinkle of fresh cracked pepper
• 1/2 teapoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon molasses (or brown sugar)
• Handful of fresh parsley, rough chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)

Other: 1 lb pasta, cooked (I used whole wheat thin spaghetti, use gluten-free if needed)

Directions

Heat oven to 400. Put chopped vegetables and herbs on a large deep-sided sheet pan. Stuff the garlic cloves into the tomatoes so they don’t burn. Drizzle with olive oil and toss with salt and pepper. Roast for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Carefully pour the veggies and their sauces into a  pot on the stove and use an immersion blender to puree the vegetables. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, let the veggies cool to room temperature, then transfer to a blender or food processor and puree. Then pour into a pot on the stove.) Add parsley, salt, and molasses. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. My sauce was thick already, so I simmered with the lid on, but if you have really juicy tomatoes, you may want to simmer with the lid off until you reach the desired consistency. Check for seasoning. Adding more salt or molasses (adds sweetness and cuts acidity) as needed.

Variations

Make it Salsa: This base recipe could easily be turned into a salsa by switching up the seasonings — add a few jalapenos and cilantro, omit rosemary, oregeno, and parsley. Pulse in the food processor for a chunkier version. Would be delicious served hot or cold with chips.

Make it Soup: Add a little broth or cream for a delicious roasted tomato and pepper soup.

Make it a Meal: While you’re simmering the sauce and the oven is still hot, roast up some chickpeas tossed in olive oil and Italian seasoning for a crunchy protein-filled topping. Wilt some spinach into the sauce in the last five minutes to sneak in some greens.

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The Title: Roasted Tomato and Sweet Pepper Pasta Sauce
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